Israel may move against Arafat: Sharon

Israel might move against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who has been confined to his West Bank headquarters for more than two years, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said.

Israel TV reported that Mr Sharon made the comment in a series of interviews he gave for the forthcoming Jewish holiday of Passover.

The interviews are to appear in Israeli newspapers and on radio and TV stations today.

Mr Sharon said Mr Arafat cannot remain where he is forever, and it is not impossible that Israel will act against him in the future.

Several months ago, Israel’s Cabinet declared that Mr Arafat was responsible for Palestinian violence and should be ”removed”, and several Cabinet ministers have called frequently for his expulsion or killing.

The daily Maariv printed excerpts of its interview today, in which Mr Sharon said Mr Arafat “has no insurance policy”. He was also quoted as saying: “Today everyone knows that Arafat is the obstacle (blocking) any progress.”

Mr Sharon also said his unilateral disengagement plan includes a withdrawal from all of the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements, the paper said. “We need to get out of Gaza, not to be responsible any more for what happens there,” he said.

“I hope that by next Passover we will be in the midst of disengagement, because disengagement is good for Israel.”

Mr Sharon is on a campaign to persuade rebellious members of his own Likud Party to support the pull-out plan. Earlier this week, he agreed to a party referendum and said he would abide by the results.

Maariv said that after the Gaza pull-out, Israel would continue to control the Gaza-Egypt border, scene of repeated clashes as Israeli troops try to destroy tunnels Israel says the Palestinians use to smuggle weapons in from Egypt.

Early today, Israeli tanks entered the Rafah refugee camp on the border, looking for tunnels.

Maariv said it would print the full interview on Monday. The Passover holiday begins Monday evening.